A gambling addiction charity has called for Wales to have more powers to tackle the “ugly disease” of fixed odds betting terminals.

Wales-based gambling addiction treatment service Beat the Odds has called on Parliament to give Wales responsibility over fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT) as data shows around 30,000 people across the nation could be problem gamblers.

Research by the Gambling Commission found that 1.1% surveyed in Wales were identified as problem gamblers, with around £3,000 spent each day on average at the 1,500 FOBTs across Wales.

'Particularly dangerous'

Wynford Ellis Owen, CEO of the Living Room Cardiff which runs the Beat the Odds initiative, said: “The prevalence rate of problem gambling in Wales is estimated to be 1.1% of the population.

“For a country the size of Wales, this is an alarmingly high number.

“The message I get from recovering gamblers is that FOTBs are particularly dangerous because they are so addictive.

Some are calling devolution of powers over betting machines through the Wales Bill (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

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“This message is repeated over and over again in comments by recovering addicts who tell me it is like an ‘ugly disease’, ‘like drugs’, a habit that brings no joy, something that hooks you in and sucks you in.

“It is imperative therefore that Wales receives the same treatment as Scotland to enable the country to tackle the scourge of the FOTBs epidemic and its impact on our communities.”

'Huge problem'

Figures released by the Living Room Cardiff show that £1m on average is staked on each FOBT each year, with around £675 per adult spent on the terminals.

“Evidence suggests that these machines are highly addictive causing real and lasting damage for gamblers.

“Fixed Odds Betting Terminals have become a huge problem in communities that are often struggling to cope with under-investment and high unemployment, exacerbating the problem of gambling more than any other form of betting.”

The latest research by the Gambling Commission found that of those surveyed, 47.2% had gambled in at least one form in the month.

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Director of the experimental psychopathology lab at Swansea University, Dr Simon Dymond, said: “The increased opportunities to gamble, be it via smartphone apps or in the high street bookies, and the growing acceptance of gambling related advertisements as part of sporting events, means that it is now more important than ever to conduct research into safeguarding the most vulnerable from developing a gambling problem and providing help where it is needed the most.

“To that extent, the Government’s recently announced review of electronic gaming machines and the work of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) means that much needed legislative change may be coming to protect current and future generations from the pernicious effects of these easily accessible, high-stakes games.”

Gambling is currently the responsibility of Westminster, with the relevant powers set to be devolved to Scotland.